Transcript Highlights:

• increases in operational or capital increases in operational or capital costs<03:22:41.120> or
• <03:24:39.760> aren't be that people with capital aren't be that people with capital aren't
• maybe there's a proposal to do a capital maybe there's a proposal to do a capital improvement<03
• <03:36:28.319> investments to the point of of capital investments to the point of of capital
• > improvement, Whether it's a capital improvement, Whether it's a capital improvement, whether<03

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll revert now to our discussion and public testimony on capital outlay.
• I thought it was important for our committee just to get an update on the capital outlay bill.
• And with me is Margaret Hill, FPC Assistant Director over Capital Outlay and the non-state program.
• And with me is Margaret Hill, FPC Assistant Director over Capital Outlay, and the non-state program.
• Okay, let's go back to our capital outlay presentation.

Bills: HB214, HB217, HB514, HB593, HB618, HB732, HB908, HB961, HB1010

Keywords: property tax, blighted properties, urban rehabilitation, tax exemption, local government, financial incentives, blighted property, derelict property, property tax exemption, local redevelopment plans, rehabilitation standards, ad valorem tax, community development, senior citizens, homestead exemption, Louisiana Constitution, motor vehicles, local fees, transaction fees, funding

Transcript Highlights:

• In state terms, you all call this other capital outlay.
• Yes, certainly capital projects are major contributors to that when you have a big growth.
• For instance, at FAMU, 32% for capital projects. That's a bit of an outlier.
• We have 54 active projects. for instance, at FAMU, 32% for capital projects.
• Then they communicate those enrollment numbers up to the central authority in the capital.

Summary: The committee held an informational hearing on higher education funding, focusing on how Florida’s university system should be financed and whether a new funding model is needed. University system financial officers and Chancellor Ray Rodriguez discussed major cost drivers, including wages and benefits, utilities, maintenance, financial aid, research, and the effects of geography, institutional mission, and student mix. UF highlighted the cost of research and graduate programs; UCF and FAU pointed to growth, location, and cost of living; FAMU emphasized recruiting top-tier talent while relying on other revenue sources; and UNF noted the challenges of growth and long-term planning. Members also discussed the role of internal controls and audits in addressing excessive spending and questioned whether out-of-state tuition should be adjusted to help offset costs. On revenue sources beyond state appropriations and tuition, the panel described auxiliaries, restricted funds, capital projects, and component units such as foundations and health systems. Several universities noted that some revenues are restricted to specific purposes and cannot be used for general operations. FAMU explained that a large share of its capital project funding reflected active campus construction, while UF said its component-unit revenue is largely tied to UF Health. The Chancellor emphasized that the system’s low tuition and strong state support are central to Florida’s national standing, but also noted that some auxiliary revenues are pledged to debt and must be managed carefully. When discussing the current funding process, witnesses praised Florida’s performance-based funding model for aligning incentives with student success, transparency, and accountability. They also raised concerns about non-recurring appropriations, rising employee benefit costs, unfunded mandates, deferred maintenance, and the difficulty of multi-year planning. Suggestions for improvement included more recurring funding, better coverage of mandated costs, greater flexibility in fee-setting, and possible weighting for mission, geography, and institutional type. The Chancellor said the Board of Governors is considering a “version 3.0” of performance-based funding that would benchmark institutions against peers and Carnegie classifications, but any changes would require legislative action. On out-of-state tuition, most universities said they would prefer local board flexibility, while the Chancellor cautioned that increasing out-of-state enrollment or fees could affect future state support and should be balanced carefully.

Transcript Highlights:

• 17:39.160> at<00:17:39.360> this<00:17:39.640> as<00:17:39.919> a the capital
• so I I look at this as a the capital so I I look at this as a process<00:17:40.600> Improvement
• c> know<00:23:09.000> we<00:23:09.120> throw<00:23:09.440> around at the capital
• you know we throw around at the capital you know we throw around so<00:23:10.360> much<00:23:
• <00:23:22.360> and<00:23:22.720> we<00:23:22.919> have capital and we have capital

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee heard House File 3, authored by Chair Nash, which would require the Office of the Legislative Auditor to produce an annual report for fiscal committees showing how well agencies have implemented prior audit recommendations, especially those related to financial practices, internal controls, and management. Nash said the bill is intended to give legislators a clearer, ongoing tool to evaluate agencies before making funding decisions and to help prevent waste, fraud, and abuse. He noted the bill would use existing audit information rather than create a new reporting burden, though he said it would deepen the review of implementation. Legislative Auditor Judy Randall testified that the Office of the Legislative Auditor already tracks implementation to some extent through annual information collected by Minnesota Management and Budget, but that current reporting is based largely on agency self-reporting and is not always independently verified. She said the bill would expand that work and provide the legislature with more useful accountability information. A representative from Americans for Prosperity also supported the bill, calling it a transparency and stewardship measure that would help taxpayers and legislators see whether agencies are following through on recommendations. Several members spoke in favor, describing the bill as a common-sense accountability measure and comparing it to audit practices in local government and private organizations. Nash and Randall also discussed Colorado’s similar process, where audit follow-up information is presented during budget hearings. Members raised concerns about fraud and inefficiency in state government, and Nash said the bill is meant to help lawmakers better protect taxpayer dollars. The committee voted to recommend House File 3 and re-refer it to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Transcript Highlights:

• through a loan or venture capital, the state and our private sector partners have these tools to support
• If they need that really entry-level access to capital through a loan or venture capital, the state and
• SSBCI, State Small Business Credit Initiative program, another $167 million in small business capital
• Some of that's venture capital. Those tools do work. They are attractive.
• Manufacturing requires a lot of capital equipment.

Summary: The Careers and Workforce Subcommittee met for its first meeting of the year, took roll, and heard member introductions centered on the importance of workforce pathways beyond the traditional four-year college route. Members repeatedly emphasized manufacturing, trades, rural workforce needs, apprenticeships, and helping students and adults find multiple paths to good jobs. The chair outlined the subcommittee’s focus on policies that build a skilled workforce and announced the day’s theme would be manufacturing, with presentations from the Florida Department of Commerce, the Florida Semiconductor Institute, and Fleet Force CDL training. Secretary Alex Kelly presented Florida’s manufacturing report, saying manufacturing is a major economic driver and that Florida has become the 10th largest state in manufacturing employment. He highlighted strong job multipliers, rapid growth in manufacturing GDP and establishments, the importance of logistics and ports, and the state’s small-business-heavy manufacturing base. He also stressed the aging manufacturing workforce, the need for modern skills such as robotics, cybersecurity, and data analytics, and the role of public-private partnerships, apprenticeships, and workforce education investments in supporting reshoring and industry growth. Dr. David Arnold described Florida’s semiconductor sector and the Florida Semiconductor Institute’s mission to grow research, workforce, and ecosystem development. He said semiconductors are strategically important, Florida ranks fifth nationally in semiconductor workforce, and the main bottleneck is mid-level technician talent rather than engineers or entry-level workers. He pointed to NeoCity, Valencia College, and other regional partnerships as models, and said the state needs more proactive planning, better instructor capacity, and stronger pathways from K-12 through postsecondary. Evan Agiloff of Fleet Force discussed Florida’s CDL shortage, saying trucking is essential to the supply chain, Florida has about 18,000 open CDL positions, and Fleet Force’s college-based model can quickly move students into middle-class jobs. Members asked about apprenticeships, CTE pathways, semiconductor training, infrastructure needs, and how to expand and better fund workforce programs; no votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Approximately $6.94 million would be new money for capital projects, and $470,000 will refinance the
• GMB will make $5 million in initial capital improvements, plus any subsequently mutually agreed-to costs
• GMB will make $5 million in initial capital improvements, plus any subsequent mutually agreed to cost
• GMB will recoup the cost of the capital improvements from rent abatement and a portion of a facility
• commitments under the CEA and the CEA is terminated, the city must pay the remaining balance of the capital

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Summary: The State Bond Commission met on May 21 with a quorum present and approved the April 16 minutes. The commission then reviewed and approved a large slate of local government and public authority financing requests, including election propositions for the November ballot, water and sewer infrastructure projects, fire protection and recreation district bonds, school board financing, and several refunding transactions. Most items were found to meet technical requirements and were approved on motions by Speaker DeVillier and seconded by Senator Talbot. Among the more notable items were the East Baton Rouge City-Parish refunding bonds for the Greater Baton Rouge Airport District, the City of Kenner’s retroactive approval request tied to a convention center agreement with GMB Basketball LLC, a Louisiana Housing Corporation financing increase for the Federal City Building 10 affordable housing project, and preliminary approval for the Northwest Louisiana Finance Authority’s Petro Tower redevelopment in Shreveport. The commission also approved financing for Southern University’s Scott’s Bluff student housing project and the Crescent City Schools/Harriet Tubman Charter School project. The Crescent City Schools item prompted questions about how MFP funds are used; staff explained that lease payments would support the bonds and that MFP funds are generally split between educational expenses and facilities-related costs. The commission received six monthly cost-of-issuance reports, which required no action, and a status update on the state debt schedule. It also approved Resolution No. 2 authorizing up to $425 million in general obligation refunding bonds to refund the Series 2016 bonds and tender other outstanding bonds for savings, with pricing tentatively set for June 16 and closing for June 30. During other business, New Orleans City Council President J.P. Morel thanked the commission for its role in helping address the city’s fiscal crisis and for approving a charter amendment election item aimed at strengthening budget oversight. The meeting adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Approximately $6.94 million would be new money for capital projects, and $470,000 will refinance the
• GMB will make $5 million in initial capital improvements, plus any subsequently mutually agreed-to costs
• GMB will make $5 million in initial capital improvements, plus any subsequent mutually agreed to cost
• GMB will recoup the cost of the capital improvements from rent abatement and a portion of a facility
• commitments under the CEA and the CEA is terminated, the city must pay the remaining balance of the capital

Summary: The State Bond Commission met on May 21, established a quorum, approved the April 16 minutes, and then considered a long agenda of bond, refunding, and election-related requests. Items 3 through 10 were election propositions for the November 3 ballot involving ad valorem taxes, parcel fees, and charter amendments for purposes such as fire protection, agricultural centers, neighborhood security, recreation, aging services, drainage, and roads and bridges; staff said they met technical and legal requirements, and the commission approved them. The commission also approved several local financings, including water and sewer projects, fire district equipment and facility improvements, school board and parish bonds, and refunding transactions for the East Baton Rouge City-Parish and St. James Parish School Board. A retroactive approval request from the City of Kenner related to a CEA with GMB Basketball LLC was discussed; staff made no recommendation because it was retroactive, but noted it appeared to be an oversight, and item 22, the related airport district agreement, was approved. The commission approved additional financing for the Louisiana Housing Corporation’s Federal City Building 10 affordable housing project, a preliminary approval for the Northwest Louisiana Finance Authority’s Petro Tower redevelopment in Shreveport, and two Louisiana Public Facilities Authority projects: Southern University’s Scott’s Bluff student housing project and the Crescent City Schools project for Harriet Tubman Charter School. During discussion of the Crescent City Schools financing, a commissioner asked about the use of MFP funds; staff explained that lease payments would be the repayment source and that MFP dollars are generally split between educational expenses and facilities costs, with the school’s typical split around 72% instructional and 28% administrative/facilities-related. Both items were approved. The commission then received six cost-of-issuance reports for previously approved bond issues, with various fee adjustments but no motions required. It also reviewed a debt schedule update and adopted Resolution No. 2 authorizing up to $425 million in general obligation refunding bonds to refund Series 2016 bonds and tender other outstanding bonds for savings, with pricing tentatively set for June 16 and closing for June 30. In other business, the commission heard a brief public comment from New Orleans City Council President J.P. Morrell thanking the commission for helping place a charter amendment on the ballot to improve New Orleans budgeting transparency and oversight. The meeting ended after monthly reports were noted and no further business was raised.

Transcript Highlights:

• general revenue to the Department of Health Facilities in the following manner: $1 million to a new capital
• outlay, repairs and equipment surplus appropriation to Welch Community Hospital; $3.4 million to a new capital
• Sharp Hospital; and $4,404,000 to a new capital outlay, repairs and equipment surplus appropriation to
• supplemental appropriates $10 million from the unappropriated surplus balance of general revenue to a new capital
• supplemental appropriates $10 million from the unappropriated surplus of general revenue to a new capital

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The West Virginia Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, journal approval, and numerous introductions of honorary pages, guests, chaperones, and visitors, including a large McDowell County Day delegation. The Senate also received a governor’s executive message containing 76 nominations, which were referred to the Committee on Confirmation, and then set those nominations as a special order of business for 4 p.m. later that day. On legislation, the Senate rejected House amendments to Senate Bill 493 on open captioning for motion pictures and requested the House recede, saying the amendments changed the bill’s intent by making captioning mandatory and expanding its scope. The chamber then took up Senate Bill 587 on county officials’ salaries, adopted an amendment restoring county control over future pay increases while keeping a 5% raise, concurred in the House amendments as amended, and passed the bill 34-0 with immediate effectiveness. The Senate also fast-tracked and passed several supplemental appropriations bills, all by 34-0 votes and all made effective from passage: House Bill 527 for health facilities, House Bill 528 for the Department of Agriculture’s spay-neuter assistance fund, House Bill 5307 for the Division of Culture and History, House Bill 5317 for the Division of Natural Resources, and House Bill 5694 for the Department of Education. The Senate received House Bill 5286 on corrections and referred it to Finance. Finally, the Senate adopted Senate Resolution 66 designating March 14, 2026, as McDowell County Day at the legislature, with remarks highlighting the county’s history and current economic efforts, and then recessed for 30 minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• of credits depends on the amount of credits depends on the amount of turnpike<00:12:29.279> capital
• and<00:12:30.240> RNR<00:12:31.040> projects<00:12:31.839> that turnpike capital
• and RNR projects that turnpike capital and RNR projects that we<00:12:32.399> have<00:12:32.800
• There is a capital budget bill. There is a naming bill.
• There is a capital budget bill. There is a naming bill.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Capital is getting ready to come through, so get ready for that.
• We'll start checking our lists and double-check your capital.
• Capital is getting ready to come through. get off the floor. We're wrapping up House Bill 2.
• Capital is getting ready to come through, so get ready for that.
• We'll start checking our lists and double-check your capital.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The capital fall protection project began preliminary design last month.
• guess is necessary, but will the accessibility and the new chairlifts be part of the overarching capital
• move forward with it, we will determine and study whether those locations would be permanent in a capital
• The next item on the agenda is the updated capital master plan, and that's pretty simple.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The commission received updates on several Capitol accessibility and facilities projects. For the ADA chairlift study, the consultant recommended replacing chairlifts in the legislative library, House chamber, and Senate chamber because of noncompliance and age-related maintenance issues. Staff said preliminary budget information put the replacement cost at about $400,000, with design expected to take a few months and construction another month or two, and that a new project would be set up. Members asked whether the work would fit into the broader capital master plan, and staff said the chairlift locations would be coordinated with that plan to avoid doing work that would later be removed. The commission also discussed the updated capital master plan and the planned owner’s representative. Members said the RFQ is prepared but will not be released until budget authority is available, likely after the FY26 budget is approved. They emphasized the need to move quickly once funding is available so preliminary work can begin without delay. No action was taken beyond discussion, and members noted that earlier hopes of funding in an early supplemental did not materialize. An update was also provided on the Governor’s Council on Disability’s Digital Wayfinding Project. Staff said the team is working on the technical architecture, content governance, and how visitors will use the system, and that the commission is currently only being asked to approve signage, not to fund the project. Members raised questions about long-term software and upkeep costs and asked that House and Senate leadership and administrative offices be included in reviewing the sign designs. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn, which was seconded and approved unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• improvement plan and with direct capital improvement plan and with direct support<00:03:51.120> for
• The county owns the capital assets, as you can see, and has invested hundreds of millions of dollars
• That would support capital investment needs at the hospital.
• The draft amendment also leaves the position on capital expenditures for the baseball stadium the same
• preservation and capital improvements. preservation and capital improvements.

Transcript Highlights:

• And yet that's a big cost driver in both human capital and fiscal capital related to SUD.
• <00:12:13.440> metrics resiliency and recovery capital. metrics resiliency and recovery capital
• <00:12:36.240> and cost driver in both human capital and cost driver in both human capital
• fiscal capital related to SUD. fiscal capital related to SUD.
• essential for building recovery capital essential for building recovery capital that<00:19:28.400

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight Advisory Board met with a quorum, approved the November 12 minutes by voice vote, and then heard a presentation from former Governor Ernie Fletcher and Dave Johnson on Medicaid reimbursement for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Fletcher argued that addiction should be treated as a chronic disease requiring a longer continuum of care, not just short residential stays, and said recovery should combine clinical treatment with social supports such as housing, transportation, employment, peer coaching, and recovery housing. He cited data on overdose trends, low treatment rates, and high costs for people with SUD, and said current reimbursement models create poor incentives and do not adequately support long-term recovery or measure outcomes well. Fletcher proposed a “carve through” model administered at the MCO level with standardized metrics, data sharing, and an independent recovery coordinator that would assess patients, coordinate care, and connect them to clinical and social recovery services. He suggested using bundled payments, shared savings, and partial risk arrangements, with recovery housing reimbursed on a PMPM or weekly basis and funded in part through existing Medicaid spending and other sources such as opioid abatement funds. He also emphasized peer support, telemedicine, criminal justice coordination, workforce and education supports, and the use of technology, including text messaging and possibly AI, to maintain long-term follow-up and identify relapse risk. Members questioned how the model would work in practice, especially the education and staffing requirements for recovery coordinators, reimbursement levels, and how many patients each coordinator or peer would serve. Fletcher said peers could be certified and would need additional training in assessments such as ASAM and recovery residence standards, but he did not give a precise salary figure, saying the market and bundled rates would determine that. He also said follow-up should continue for years, noting relapse risk over the first 18 to 24 months and that meaningful employment and ongoing peer contact help sustain recovery. No formal vote or action was taken on the substance use presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• With GIS, we do have part of our capital in rural areas. Thank you. Thank you.
• We've always Presented that during our capital outlay requests.
• So, Capital Outlay will. Probably open in September.
• So you're eligible for Capital Outlay. GOB is not set up for charter schools.
• Gallup has obviously paid a lot into this project has a lot of capital improvements.

Transcript Highlights:

• Housing authorities continue to look for other means to not only address their capital backlog, but also
• Is there—because I didn't see it in your bill—is there... housing Capital funds the only funding housing
• Capital funds the only funding housing<00:35:51.880> agencies<00:35:52.400> have<00:35
• means to not only address their Capital means to not only address their Capital backlog<00:36:13.520
• needs a couple of property's Capital needs a couple of these<00:36:40.960> paths<00:36:41.359

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Rules Committee members will meet in Capital G3 immediately following recess.
• will<00:10:02.480> uh<00:10:02.720> meet<00:10:02.959> in<00:10:03.200> Capital
• <00:10:03.600> G3 will uh we will uh meet in Capital G3 will uh we will uh meet in Capital

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• last year, you know, we heard a lot of testimony about how there needed to be more resources in the capital
• Just an idea that capitalized senior enlisted leader because it is a title like the adjutant general,
• Is that part, is that its own separate fund, or is that under the umbrella of the Capital Commission?
• I read the statute that none of this is capitalized, and I always was under the impression that when
• it's an official title, you capitalize it, as in the Adjutant General and the sergeant major.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Senator Sandy Pappas, Chair of the Senate Capital Investment Committee.
• Um, I want to thank Senator Pappas, the chair of our capital investment committee, the committee that
• Large capital investment bills... markets. We know that people have markets.
• of us we're all putting out in front of us together.<00:05:24.000> Large<00:05:24.400> capital
• <00:05:24.720> investment<00:05:25.280> bills Together, large capital investment bills

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our next bill for consideration today is HB 653, aggravating factors for capital felonies.
• Today I'm presenting House Bill 653, aggravating factors for capital felonies.
• Members, as you're aware, capital punishment is reserved for the convicted of a heinous crime.
• Given the federal government already imposes penalties for committing a capital felony offense against
• We submit that society is protected, and those who commit capital crimes are severely punished through

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and considered a large agenda of bills, mostly in the criminal justice, courts, civil procedure, and family/consumer protection areas. Early measures included CS/HB 1161 on removing altered sexual depictions posted without consent, HB 403 modernizing LLC law to allow protected series LLCs, CS/HB 97 on service of process in protection proceedings for vulnerable adults, and HB 813 as the state courts package addressing duty judges, arbitrator compensation, and notarization by judges. All of those bills were reported favorably, with HB 403 and HB 813 amended. The committee also heard and advanced CS/HB 947 on evidence of medical damages in personal injury and wrongful death cases, which drew substantial opposition from insurers, business groups, and defense-oriented witnesses, while the sponsor argued it would let juries hear all relevant evidence; it passed 19-3. Members also approved CS/CS/HB 615 allowing electronic delivery of landlord-tenant notices by email, after an amendment requiring opt-in language and written notice to update an email address; tenant advocates still raised concerns about eviction-related notices and receipt verification. HB 663 increased penalties for using tracking devices or apps to commit dangerous crimes and passed unanimously. CS/HB 385 made technical changes to the Florida Trust Code and passed unanimously after a conforming amendment. CS/HB 255, known as Dexter’s Law, increased penalties for aggravated animal cruelty and was supported by law enforcement and animal welfare groups; it passed unanimously. Later in the meeting, the committee approved HB 513 on electronic transmittal of court orders after the sponsor withdrew an amendment that would have changed the deadline from six hours to six business hours, following concerns that the delay could be too long for urgent orders. CS/HB 1099 gave law enforcement discretion in arrests involving individuals with significant medical conditions in facilities and passed unanimously. HB 653 added aggravating factors for capital felonies involving assassinations or attempted assassinations of heads of state; it drew opposition from the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops and passed 20-2. CS/HB 59 expanded wrongful incarceration compensation by extending the filing deadline, removing the clean-hands bar, and allowing exonerees to choose between civil suit and the state claims process; it passed unanimously. PCS/HB 777 increased penalties for in-person luring or enticing of children and barred certain age-based defenses, passing unanimously. Finally, CS/HB 437 increased penalties for tampering with electronic monitoring devices; two amendments softened the bill by clarifying juvenile treatment and giving judges limited discretion to avoid automatic revocation of pretrial release, and the bill passed 21-1 before the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• would need to be a tip to the federal government paying them $5.60 because that would have been the capital
• There is the idea of liquidating your golden children incurring 28% capital gains tax hit on that on.
• One of those his Treasurer Oaks pointed out is the 28% federal capital gains tax rate that applies to
• go to buy your groceries at the store under federal law, you're required to calculate, which are capital
• The interesting thing, though, is that there is a very important exemption from the 28% capital gains

Keywords: 999, senate, all